New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ITNO FRENCH BOOKS.

Levy; NewY0rk: W. X jenkins
In his last novel Jules Csrete has made study
of French eIectioneering methods 1t is interesting
10 observe how mitch there is in these which resem-
bles American politics The differences, however,
ara sufficiently marked to indicate the effect of
race upop manners. In Candidate" the fortunes
and mIsfortunes Of an amateur politician are set
FORTH A certain retired army officer OF simple and
uprigbt character is persuaded against his better
Judgment to become o candidate for seat in the
Corps Leeislatf Its former occupant, NJ Charvet
has been elevated to the Senate, and his place be-
comes known the succession Cbarvet" The
Commandment Verdier very soon discovers that bis
canvass is hard work and dirty work. His rival Is
q bold demagogue name Garousse, who employs a
cynical rascal of Partisan journalist to conduct
campaign paper for him. In ts columns poor
verdier is abomina3ly traduced and illuminated
and what is tar worse his is dragged into the
mud with HIM. Vcrdier has the military shortncss
of TEN oer aud none of that pschydermatous mali
ference to abuse which the professional pohtieiah
cultiyates. He is driven nearly mad by the lies
which are published concerning him, but when he
finds that his niece is object of attack he assaults
the ribald editor and then iDgs up his candldature,
merely waiting to fight the inevitable and harmless
duel with the BLACKBOARD he has beaten
One of the best-drawn characters is Madame Her
b!ay. bright and charming widow of considerable
has gradually come to bs considered a power in the
department. She holds frequent councils with the
leaders at her chateau which is sort OF party
HEADQUARTERS, aud NJ. Charvet. the Senator, locks
forward to the time when she will marry him.
though she herself has intention of the kind.
Emilio Dncane is clearly another portrait A young
lawyer extremely cool-booded and rather alb
normally conceited, Emile seeks to mould himself
upon the great English statesman William Pitt
He has the name of the latter continually upon his
lips, and he cannot often enough remind himself
that Pitt was Prime Minister when a very young
man. He fcels that there is nothing against him in
the general eve but his youth and every mention
of that he meets with the example of William Pitt
Emile has felt from the first that the succession
Charvet" ought TO te his. lie follows poor Com
mandaut Verdler's blunderings and dounderlngs
with ostensibe regret but inwar1 rejoicing, and
when the soldier retres dsgusted from the canvass
the young Pittite adroitly works himself into the
vacant place, and makes reputation for himself
by defeating Garousse. Some insight is afforded to
the way in which the French peasant regards
politics. The candidate is cautioned by the
veterans who are coaching him that he mpst
eschow patriotism if lie wants the votes of the
farmers and laborers. AS little possible must be
said of the army and nothing of the frontier.
There must be no hint of revaache" no Chanvin-
ism whatever. The peasant wants peace and low
taxes, aud does not want glory" If this pict-
ure is from the life the prospects of General Bou-
LANCER never have been as bright as mere
study of tho Partisan press might have suggested
Daring the Verdier canvass q small riot occurs
in the course of which a " man of the people," a
hare-brained Socialist, stabs a soldier. This Incl
dent is utilized to show how demagogues like
Garousso deceive the people and set one class OF
them against another i'll order to COMPASS Their
base and selfish culs. The guilibility, exc;tabiity
and weather-cock putabiiity Of the French masses
rs here exhibited are perhaps less national than
human characteristics The author however, has
made careful and conscientious study
The book would be incomplete without
love, AMI the love story is graceful and
interesting. introducing one of those won
derful English adventuresses with golden
hair and green eyes and blool cold reptiles, of
which French novests have long held IN absolute
monopoly. few years ago it would have been
considered quite necessary to endow her with
projecting front teeth" buck teeth as they are
sometimes called. N. Claretis however, has posi-
bly, visited England, and has in consequence some
what itigated the dental sign of his model English
woman. Of course 1T may be SAID that Jules
arctic can cite the illusrio1s precedent of Becky
Sharpe in support OF greon eyes, and 1T is we'll
known that the ancieats had some odd ideas on the
samo subject; that IS if we hold (what is by no
same as ours do There is evidence for the theory
that gray and blue, for instance used inter
chan eaby and it has Teen suggested hat the per-
.eption Of coors couple of thousand years
may have been far less close and delicate than at
present. The French indeed are rather partial 10
emerald eyes in q woman. Even good judge
of beauty as Thcophile Gautier approved them
Certainly they may be lovely in the face OF black
cat, but as to women vet lie gLstibts The green
+.
itei finally, or rather Is compelled to exchange a
lcng-cherishel revenge for four hundred thousand
francs The course of true love runs smooth at
last. Commandment Yerdier makes port unframed.
Emile Ducasse covers himself with political 2 Tory.
Garousse il beaten for the succession Charvet."
Madame Herblay triamphs, and the man of the
people gets some INSIGHT into the tricks by which
he and MS Kind are continually exploited 1t is
book to mako one reflect and it is well and clearly
writren Alas, that it should 80 commonly be
necessary to seek bills of health Tor French
novels!
Propos d. Exil" is not a novel but a series OF
sketches. half graphic, half sentimental, OF tue
authors impressions in Tonquin. He was naval
Oil cor in the French feet which conquered that
country, and he passed many moaths on guard
duty about the coast. Pierre Lott has an admir-
able gift of description and fecund imagination,
but IN the present case a melancholy exha~s from
all his observations, which is perhaps less the
sentiment of exile than due to the tereave ment re-
counted in the introduction. 1t is not given TO
mauy women to be followed by SO tender and beau
tiful panegyric as Pierre Lott has hero written
upon his lost friend. The depth OF the feeling ex
hibitei may we'll account for the almost sombre
character of his reflections throughout the volume,
eyen where the intention seems to have been light
and gay. lie was profoundly Impressed BY the
ptranseness of the Asiatic encourage. He is never
tired Of remarking upon it. and upon the peculiar
Oriental smell-the odeur musque. as he calls it
which emanates not only from the people but from
the SOIL the plants, the trees the houses IN short